There truly is something wrong with this system when the price for this prescription ranges from $0 up to $33.99 –without insurance.

Recently went to the dermatologist and received a prescription for a general antibiotic. Currently without health insurance, you can guess I was a tad apprehensive about finding out just how much this would cost to fill.
My first call? Walgreens. $26, though they have a discount card available (which you must pay $20 for), that would save me -in the long run, about $12 per refill (3 needed). Hm.
Next call, Wal-Mart: $10. Ok, we’re getting better.
CVS? a whopping $33.99! (though I should say they also offer a discount card… yay.)
And the final call went to our local (and somewhat hoity) grocery chain, Publix.. my savior: $0.

Thankfully, Publix provides antibiotics at no charge – wow, and thank you. As I just found out, they also provide generic antibiotics for teachers as well. Of course it begs the question “how can they do this, when others can’t?” (or maybe they simply won’t?), granted the price of their groceries probably covers that, but that’s beside the point ; ) Their one condition? I have to go back every 2 weeks for a refill.. still less cost than any other option, and given I ride my bicycle, it falls into a double benefit as part of a fun workout. *Oh Darn.

If I think outside of my 30-yr old self, and think more like someone who is over 80 and needs prescriptions (perhaps more than just one general antibiotic), am I supposed to call each place for the best price? If I’m 85 and not on the internet, I would have to go to a phone book (if those still exist!), look up the numbers in the tiniest font possibly typed, call hopefully what is the pharmacy number (yea, Wal-Mart couldn’t xfr me, they actually gave me a separate # to call) then wait on hold, hope I can pronounce the name of the medication correctly, and finally get a price. Oh wait, the other option would be to drive to each place. Seriously? It’s fine for me of my somewhat already limited able-mind to get to the comp or phone to look this stuff up, but for someone older, it’s no wonder they get taken advantage of when it comes to (the most important?!?) things like healthcare – simple as filling a prescription. @#$%! Outrageous.

Furthermore when I consider that my Rx has 3 refills, that would cost over $100 total — which again, is still fine for me who is able to work.. but for an elderly person on a fixed income… that’s not nothing.

Who oh who helps those in need when there is simply no one else to help with these “little” things? Who educates us on this? Um, Mr. President…..*?* …. The Healthcare “system” is as absent as Bueller was.. and is still enjoying it’s day off.

(Oh, and as the above Rx bottle indicates, I have apparently changed my name to “Breatrix” — usually it’s my last name that gets put on the block!)